• diapers
• Wet wipes
• Clothing
• Furniture and accessories
• Care and cosmetics

When you're expecting a baby, especially your first, one of the most enjoyable things is getting ready for the baby. All those new, tiny clothes, cute bottles, pacifiers, cribs, teddy bears, mattress protectors—all of it seems necessary. But is it true that a little man who's just arrived in the world needs so many gadgets? When preparing a baby kit, it's not hard to get carried away with shopping. Is it possible to do without all that mass of items and raise a healthy baby without creating a lot of extra trash and waste? Is it even possible to complete a zero-waste baby kit for a newborn?

Zero-waste is a lifestyle that aims to produce as little waste as possible that pollutes the environment. You can use reusable bags instead of plastic ones, take your coffee in a thermos instead of buying it in a plastic cup in town, etc. If you live alone, the zero-waste lifestyle seems relatively easy to organize. But what if a new family member arrives, a newborn who uses about 10 disposable diapers a day? Not just disposable diapers, but also tissues, plastic pacifiers, bottles, bibs... Children's rooms are systematically filled with plastic toys. What is really necessary and what can be done without? Here is a suggestion for a zero-waste baby kit for a newborn.

diapers

Nowadays, there are many reusable diapers to choose from. In addition to traditional diapers, there are flannel, bamboo, or muslin diapers. Diapers are purchased with snap-on "covers" or "pockets" that are used to secure reusable diapers. Cotton diapers can serve many purposes - they often serve as a blanket, bib, or in emergency situations, a towel. In addition to being environmentally friendly, reusable diapers have the advantage of being chemical-free and fragrance-free and of being breathable, which is healthier for baby's skin. However, if the thought of constantly washing and drying diapers scares us, biodegradable disposable diapers can be an alternative. Instead of plastic, they are made from cotton, corn, or bamboo; they are chemical-free and bleach-free.

Wet wipes

Instead of store-bought wipes, which contain many chemicals and are thrown away after one use, you can use a Tetra diaper moistened with water and then wash it instead of throwing it away. This method is just as effective as using store-bought disposable wipes. Or you can simply wash your baby directly under running water and wipe them with a towel.

Clothing

A great zero-waste solution is to complete a baby outfit with used clothes. Especially since babies outgrow them quickly and sometimes don't have time to wear a pair of bodysuits more than three times. This option is not only environmentally friendly but also significantly more economical. You can buy clothes from brick-and-mortar or online secondhand stores, or use clothes from friends that you can later pass on to another child. It's important that the clothes are made of high-quality, eco-friendly materials like organic cotton or merino wool.

Furniture and accessories

The same solution works for furniture as for clothing—you can successfully purchase a used crib or changing table. The same applies to strollers, baby carriers, or slings. However, teats and bottles are available in eco-friendly versions—made from natural materials, such as 100% natural rubber, which do not contain bisphenol-A, phthalates, or sulfur.

Care and cosmetics

It turns out that babies don't need countless amounts of creams, olive oils , special soaps, ointments, and powders. What we already have at home is enough. Anti-nausea ointments can be replaced with natural oils such as coconut, jojoba, or almond oil, while balms can be replaced with olive oil, and the powder with potato flour. For more serious irritations, you can give your baby a bath with flaxseed or starch.

Before you start shopping for a newborn, it's worth making a list of essentials before you get carried away with the shopping frenzy. The most important thing is to stay calm and use common sense. It's well known that it's impossible to completely eliminate waste, especially with a small child, but it doesn't hurt to try.